Mexico City, Oct 29: America defeated Pumas 1-0 in the Mexico City derby on Sunday to qualify for the playoffs with two rounds remaining in the Mexican Apertura football championship.
Tijuana, Toluca and Leon are also guaranteed a place in the postseason after the weekend results. Tijuana drew 1-1 with Morelia, Toluca lost 3-0 to Cruz Azul, while Leon defeated Jaguares 4-1.
In other weekend matches, Monterrey won 3-2 against Santos Laguna, Chivas overcame Atlas 2-0, Pachuca defeated Tigres 1-0, Atlante drew 1-1 against Puebla and San Luis and Queretaro drew 0-0.
Daniel Montenegro fired in the winner from 25 meters (yards) for America in the 26th minute.
Miguel Sabah scored from the penalty spot for Morelia against Tijuana, canceling out Colombian Duvier Riascos* 9th minute opener. The point was enough to move Tijuana into first position in the league table with Toluca losing.
Cruz Azul opened the scoring against Toluca through Gerado Flores, with Mexico international Javier Aquino adding the second in the 35th and Argentine Mariano Pavone sealing the victory in the 74th.
Second half goals from Hernan Burbano and Carlos Pena extended Leon*s lead against Jaguares.
Matias Britos got the first in the 5th and Luis Montes got the second in the 29th, two minutes after Luis Gabriel Rey had equalized for Jaguares with a penalty.
Both teams had players sent off in the first half, with Jose Vazquez shown a red card in the 13th minute for Leon and Jaguares* Miguel Martinez leaving the field in the 20th.
An 85th minute goal from U.S. international Herculez Gomez set up an intense finish to the game against Monterrey, but Santos Laguna couldn*t rescue a point.
Chile's Humberto Suazo gave Monterrey the lead in the 12th, before Oribe Peralta equalized in the 41st.
Cesar Delgado put Monterrey back into the lead 10 minutes after halftime, with Aldo de Nigris extending it three minutes later.
Rafael Marquez Lugo headed in Chivas* first goal in the 11th, with Marco Fabian scoring the second with a shot from 30 meters (yards) four minutes before halftime against Atlas in the Guadalajara derby.
Pachuca stayed in playoff contention with a victory thanks to goal in the 51st from Raul Meraz.
Jose Fonseca got an injury time winner for Atlante against Puebla.
Chilean international Esteban Paredes scored his ninth goal of the season in the 3rd, before Puebla equalized through Paraguay's Herminio Miranda in the 65th.
Queretaro is yet to win a game this season, while San Luis is out of the playoff race.
